Taking Stock...

Declan is almost three months and for all of this time, I've been wondering what was happening with Jack at the corresponding ages and times. How many times a day did he eat? When did he start to go down at a regular time? When does the crying in the car stop? Everything. And I realize now that if I don't start recording this, I'll be asking these questions for the next 18 years. I figure at the very least we'll have a record of what we've done with all this time (which may help me remember these stay-at-home years that everyone tells me to treasure and that will fly by) but I'm really hoping that I'll also have milestones to refer to as the kids grow so I know what the heck is going on when others follow. Poor Jack will just have to be that typical first child whom we "learn" with.

So here's where we stand - today was a fairly typical Sunday:

Jack woke up around 7:30ish, after sleeping through the night - he's been a great sleeper now for as long as I can remember (which is to say since he's been about 6 months old), and I just pray this sticks. Declan had one of his best sleep nights, going down around10:30pm and sleeping until 5:15am or so. This is a record. I fed him at 5:15, brought him into bed with me, and fed him a little again at 7:30am. At 9am Declan woke up and coughed and threw up on me. Argh. Not my favorite way to start the day, but we did give him a bath which made him very happy, and when Declan's happy, he's VERY happy. It's the best.

Pancakes and yogurt for breakfast for Jack - he's now sitting in a booster seat instead of the high chair, and is interested in utensils, but has certainly not mastered them. He eats food by the fistful (no pincer grasp for this kid) - and I had to feed him the yogurt, if I gave it to him, it'd be all over the place.

11:30am we had a family outing to the Home Depot - I sat in the back with the boys because it helps keep Declan calm, else he's boo-hooing like crazy. He just wants the company and the human interaction... so since I can, why not? In the store, Javier takes Declan in the Baby Bjorn and I push Jack in the cart - it's a good system. Jack is so good riding in the cart, which makes my life so much easier. Especially when it's just me and the boys and I've got Dec in the Bjorn. Home at 12:30 - chicken nuggets, spinach pancake for lunch - and nap time for Jack. This is the best thing ever: tell him it's night night time, bring him upstairs, fresh diaper, sit in the chair and sing "Tender Shepard" while Jack plays peekaboo with the curtains, sing "Our Father", walk to the crib, hand Jack his lovie, place him down with his blankie, and Jack rolls around, gets comfy and smiles. I walk out of the room saying "night night", "I love you" and "I'll see you in a few hours" - Jack watches me leave, happy as can be, plays in his crib and falls asleep. It's the best thing ever, and I'm wracking my brain, trying to figure out how we can ensure it's the same with Declan.

But here's what I should have learned with Jack: I was so stressed out about getting him on a schedule and sleeping on his own, and it happened (with work and consistency on our part) in its own time. I probably made myself crazy with Jack for 10 months, stressing about this. I know I need to let Declan grow a bit more, mature a bit more, and that we'll get there. I just have to keep reminding myself that all of this takes time. It hasn't even been three months yet.

General things about Declan at "almost 12 weeks old": he still has no hair and no eyebrows. He will occasionally take a pacifier, but I'm not sure it's really worth it because he doesn't want it when he's upset, so what's the point of forming the attachment? I'm exclusively breastfeeding him, so I never know how much he gets. He had his 4th bottle (ever) today and took 3 oz, although I'm pretty sure he gets more when I breastfeed him (I have no idea why I think this...) He's a happy baby in general, but when he's sad, his whole face crumples and he bawls. He wakes up happy and for most of the day is independent, especially if fed, dry, and well-rested. If these conditions are met, he's happy on his mat or in the swing. The hardest part of the day with him is usually around dinner time, when he gets fussy - and this requires holding, bouncing and walking at the same time. Javier and I took turns eating and walking with Declan. Then I fed him tonight at 8:30pm and then he cried and fussed for about 20 minutes afterwards, before falling asleep on me. I held him for about 45 minutes before transferring him to his basket. (Crib not in, we're getting desperate.)

Jack went to bed early - after having pasta, turkey meatballs and tomato sauce for dinner, he rubbed his sauce-covered hands all over his head, which was funny because it then stuck out in all different directions. Then he smoothed down his hair and it was slicked to his head with sauce. Jav brought Jack up for his bath at 6:50pm, and although we were willing to have Jack stay up later, he wanted to go to bed. He was in his crib by 7:15 and down by 7:30. We have the camera to watch what's going on and it's the coolest thing. I watched Jack play with a book and then crawl into a comfortable position and fall asleep.

It's 10:40pm, all the Vargas men/boys are sleeping, and I should be too. Fingers crossed, Declan will sleep for awhile and I can get in a good chunk of sleep.